Module Code - Title:
GA5104
-
METHODS AND CASES IN ORAL HISTORY AND BEALOIDEAS
Year Last Offered:
2024/5
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
To understand meaning of oral history and folklore; methods of presentation and editing of both bodies of material; the principal archival collections for oral history and béaloideas; including the Irish Folklore Commission collection and major collections such as folklore and oral histories of families, childhood, work and social organisation.
Oral tradition and life histories and material in archives such as those of the Department of Irish Folklore are rich sources for social, economic, political and cultural history of particular localities. Historians have hitherto almost ignored its importance, although there is a growing awareness of its value. Such data can give the subaltern views generally excluded from official documentation and is consequently fundamental to any local or national study. A discussion to negotiate the interface between such oral testimonies and official records is envisaged.
Syllabus:
Session 1: Introduction & key concepts
Session 2: Classification of Folklore ; the archival material of the Irish Folklore Commission
Session 3: Field work: process and practice (i)
Session 4: Irish fairy lore
Session 5: Practical workshop
Session 6: Field work: process and practice. (ii)
Session 7: Ritual / Symbolic Traditions
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
Having completed this module, the student will be able to:
choose a pertinent theme relating to a particular locality
arrange and present findings from the archive of the Department of Irish Folklore
evaluate the relevant folklore repertoire with reference to the theme or locality
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
Having completed this module, the student will be able to:
defend the local historian's role in the folklore process, as collector, preserver, and advocate
display how this defence relates to his/her own work
Justify the relevance or usefulness of folklore to the historian
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
Not applicable
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
Module is delivered through formal lectures and workshops.
The small class group group allows for high level of student participation and guidance with regard to self-directed study.
Programme includes a practical session on accessing the Department of Irish Folklore material on microfilm.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Bourke, Angela (1999)
The Burning of Bridget Cleary
, Penguin
Dundes, Alan (1980)
Interpreting Folklore
, Indiana University Press
Dundes, Alan (1965)
The study of folklore
, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice- Hall
Ó Súilleabháin, Seán (1942)
A Handbook of Irish Folklore
, Education Compnay of Ireland Ltd
Sommer, Barbara W. & Quinlan, Mary Kay (2002)
The oral history manual
, Altamira Press
Uí Ógáin, Ríonach (1995)
Immortal Dan, Daniel O Connell in Irish folk tradition
, Geoghraphy Publications
Other Relevant Texts:
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Module Leader:
Sile.deCleir@ul.ie